Parenting The Ab Fab Way!
OK, have you seen the trailer for the new Ab Fab film? Funny doesn’t come close … absolutely hilarious to ridiculously magnified proportions is getting you somewhere nearer … Saunders and Lumley are just brilliant … totally inspiring (don’t worry, I’ll be exploring this further) … and it got me thinking about Absolutely Fabulous and the way one chooses to parent …
Now, I’m not talking about being absolutely fabulous at parenting … though I’m sure all of you are … but, personally, I’m not putting myself into that type of bracket … however, what I am talking about is Eddie and Patsy. Totally fabulous! Their parenting skills are right on point! On fleek, as my girls would say. What? You don’t agree? OK, let me try and convince you … think I may just be able to sway some … a few will start to waiver, I’m sure … oh come on, have you seen how much damn fun those girls have? When was the last time you had that much fun? Seriously?
So, the unwritten rule as a kid is to rebel, rebel, rebel … parent suggests an early night … teen thinks let’s stay up all night.ย Parent suggests teen gets some studying done … teen thinks yeah right let’s spend all night on my phone. Parent suggests teen doesn’t do something … teen does it! You get my drift? ย So, the general rule, if you’re a teen, is let’s do the total bloody opposite … and I don’t blame them … how dull are parents trying to make their teens? I’m bored, too, of parenting this way … I can’t imagine how they feel … well I can, actually, because they demonstrate, on a regular basis, quite clearly with attitude laden confused frowns, cocked eyebrows and eye rolling … oh, believe me, it’s all in the eyes … no need to vocalise … just use the eyes … lots! Or, on occasion … just simply say “Oh. OK” … when it obviously isn’t “Oh. OK!”
Now, Eddie, aka Jennifer Saunders, clearly says, well in a roundabout fashion, with lippy on, fag elevated high in one hand, drink in the other … sod this parenting malarkey sweetie, let’s go be raucous … let’s be outrageous … and what happens? Saffy, Eddie’s daughter, aka Julia Sawalha, is the geekiest most sensible kid you could ever meet … and, on top of being conscientious and bright, she cooks and cleans and parents Eddie and Patsy stunningly! Is she not the perfect child? The one that will go so far? Make the grade? Not cause you an absurd amount of stress?
Now, don’t get me wrong, but what on earth is wrong with that? How on earth can you rebel against a parenting style so totally ‘not parenting’ other than become the total opposite? … a dream child, so far from what her parents are … and, if most were honest with themselves, parenting a Saffy would be an absolute dream … I’m buying into this Ab Fab parenting style nicely thanks!
In fact, I love it! It’s a total parenting revelation … cut the nagging bossy parenting routine …where’s the party? … cut the not going out on a Saturday night as have to pick the kids up from their party … where’s the Bolly? Cut the cooking and cleaning … let’s indulge the hangovers! Cut the having to be responsible all the time … I’m Ab Fabbing it from now on … I’m raising Saffy style kids … no more moaning, no more dull, dull, dull … where’s my lippy? Where’s my drink? Where’s the party? … who’s coming with me? Who wants to be my Patsy? … just saying sweetie!
Disclaimer: Best if we just ignore all the drugs, promiscuity and excessive drinking … oh and the killing of a celebrity (trailer spoiler alert!)
I’m in hun, pass me the Bolly! You make excellent points and I’m certainly up for a bit of relaxed parenting on occasion but i don’t think my liver could handle the pace…
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Hmm I beg to differ!!
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Back to say TY for linking up to #FamilyFun ๐
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mwah xx
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i absolutely loved this and must say it does actually make sense haha, you’ve put a brilliant funny spin on it ๐ i can’t wait to watch the new film!
#bloggersclubuk
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Oh thank you – I reckon it could be fun trying at least! That you so much for your comment xx
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I will be Patsy my dear!! That’s why I chose Ab Fab last night in tribal chat for which tv series I would like to live in! Cannot wait for the film. Great post sweetie darling! #BloggerClubUK
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I’d love you to be my Patsy! Can not wait for the film too – looks so so fab! Thank you for commenting lovely xx
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haha! this IS how I parent lol – I love it! Now my kids are older and I don’t have to worry about sleepless nights I can worry about my saturday morning hangover instead… a wine lunch date with the other half or the girls? Erm, yes please! Great post!
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Ha ha – brilliant – you’re one step ahead of me then! And absolutely! Thank you so much for reading and commenting xx
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Haha, I can’t deny, their approach to parenting certainly looks like fun! And I do have a taste for champagne – I reckon I’m up for it! (not sure I can handle the hangover though!) #bloggerclubuk
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ha ha doesn’t it?! Let’s do it! We can worry about the hangover tomorrow! Thank you so much for commenting lovely xx
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Oh brill, I’ll be there till I fall down drunk….which would be after 1 glass if it’s daytime drinking, never could and never will be able to master that particular art!;)
mainy – myrealfairy
#bloggerclubuk
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Ha ha – good effort though! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment xx
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Hi Helen, I loved Ab Fab, Patsy was my favourite, Joanna Lumley did an absolutely brilliant job playing the part, from slurring her words to the mysterious white powder on her nose. I had no idea that they were bringing out a film, I can’t wait.
Eddie’s style of parenting should be written about in parenting self help books (can you imagine?), the book would be a sell out!
Oh to have a Saffy as a child could take a little getting used to, but I’m up for it… Now where’s my daughter?
xx
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Oh thank you so much Debs – isn’t it just fabulous? New film comes out in July, I think – go and check the trailer out – it will make you cry with laughter! Loving the idea of Eddie self help books – right – off to find her agent! Thank you so much for your comment xx
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That’s the secret to parenting, right there. Nailed it. I’m going to take a leaf out of Eddie’s book. Where’s the Bolly? Love it! #BloggerClubUK
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Ha ha – love it – glad I have believers! Thank you for commenting lovely xx
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I can’t wait til that film comes out!!! #stayclassy
PS already kind of doing this parenting, The hangovers occasionally anyway.
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It’s going to be fab! thought you might be an ab fab parent if i’m honest!! xx
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I clicked on your post because of the cocktail feature image – might have something to do with craving a good old drink and being 6 months pregnant! (is it possible to crave wine?!) Love this post – and you make a good point about parenting the Ab Fab way. I say bring it on – well in a few months after Pea arrives and I’ve recovered! #coolmumclub
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ha ha! sorry to tempt you lovely! thank you so much for commenting and good luck with your pregnancy x
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Lol brilliant, I can certainly see the sense in parenting this way – might as well make our children rebel in the direction we’d like them to go in! Sounds like it would be a lot more fun too – not sure I could cope with the hangover resulting from too much Bolly though! Thanks for linking up to #FamilyFun ๐
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So much more fun – I’m fed up with boring parenting! Glad it makes sense to you too! thank you s much for your comment xx
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Haha I have often thought about this and basically the fact that the best strategy is to be a total crazy party animal so you make all the cool things seem totally uncool and thus rear children who are totally uninterested in it. Let’s check back in about 10 years time to see if it’s worked? Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely x
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It’s the only way, surely – i’m totally up for it! Glad I’ve got supporters! See you in the Bolly tent at Britmums then? (they’ve got one, right??) xx
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I’m totally with you. let’s do it! And if we can sit in your champagne tent whilst parenting all the better ๐
Now seriously, Many times I have thought that is the way to go but somehow my kids seem to rebel to that too… There is no winning for me!
#Bloggerclubuk
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Brilliant! Oh no … you must have really adamant children … sip more champagne sweetie and block it out! Thank you smooch for commenting x
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Yep! Strong minded. I wonder who they get it from… ๐
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Yes, yes and YES. Screw this cleaning shit, let’s make some martinis and chill in the garden. The kids can entertain themselves, right?! Haha loved this post, so funny! Thanks for sharing with #StayClassy!
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Too right! Thought you might be with me! Thank you so much for hosting a fab linky xx
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Sounds like a perfect time to bring back the wine and maltesers evenings; obv wine replaced with Bolly now we’re “grown up” ๐พ๐พ๐ xxx
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oh i know!! They were good evenings – brilliant diet! Thank you so much for commenting lovely xx
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Hehe love Ab Fab, can’t wait for the film! You do raise a very good point, I think I could patent the Ab Fab way pretty well actually….mostly. So where’s the bolly? #bloggerclubuk and #stayclassy oh yeah #triballove too xxx
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aww thanks lovely – I may just stash a bottle of Bolly in my bag at Britmums – hurry up and book that ticket! xx
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Yaaaay, let’s do that!! Xx
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Brilliant but with a 12 week old I daren’t drink more than a couple as know I’ll be up in the night for feeds! #fortheloveofblog
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ha ha I know – perhaps save this style of parenting for when they are little older! Thank you for your comment x
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ha ha… I’m with you! Let’s go….darling! Fab post #fortheloveofBlog
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Brilliant! Thank you lovely xx
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Sounds like a ball, I love it! Great post, made me laugh out loud!
#forthwloveofBLOG
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aww thank you! xx
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So far excessive amounts of drinking is what’s got me through motherhood… I can’t wait for the new film to come out! #coolmumclub
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ha ha – love your honesty! Thank you for commenting lovely xx
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Took inspiration from your post and managed to have a totally raucous Ab Fab night on Wednesday at my book club, crawled into bed around 2am and was suitably chastised by the kids over breakfast the next morning as they counted the bottles of empty Bolly! #coolmumclub
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oh that is brilliant – you are my new best friend! That you so much for commenting xx
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Sod it, lets do it! Nothing works with teenagers anyway so we might as well enjoy ourselves whilst navigating the eye-rolling and “whatever’s”! Lol funny post thanks for sharing on #fortheloveofBLOG x
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ha ha absolutely – glad you agree! xx
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Oh my goodness, YES. I love this so much. I’ve some way to go before mine are teens but am already worrying slightly as NG likes to do a poo OUTSIDE the potty rather than in. Trouble is, if I demonstrate what I want her to do by doing the opposite, I’m not sure how well that will go down socially ..! But drinking cocktails and partying in ten years’ time? Totally. ๐ #coolmumclub
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Ha ha, you definitely have permission to wait until the teen years! Very funny reply – thank you lovely xx
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I’m with you this sounds brilliant! Olivia is hitting tween stage so if I start now I should have a Saffy on my hands by the time she is a teen right? #fortheloveofBLOG
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bang on perfect! pour me a glass whilst you’re at it! Thank you so much for your comment! xx
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This movie sounds so fun!! I think it’s a great idea to enjoy life as parents obviously we have to be responsible but it’s good to let go of the nagging & have fun! Thanks so much for linking up with #bloggerclubuk x
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ha ha – definitely a tongue in cheek kind of parenting! But it’d be fun! Thank you for hosting a fab linky x
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Yeah so I am back again from #familyfun and still think this is bloody awesome. more bolly dahlink?!?!
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oh if i must!! Though not today (you know why!) – ab fab lifestyle got the better of me! xx
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I love this! I love AbFab, hadn’t thought of it as parenting advice til now!
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ha ha – it’s short lived – trust me! But fun for the moment! Thank you for your comment x
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Back again from #stayclassy. youre everywhere and awesome! Thanks for linking xx
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ha ha – thank you lovely xx
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I think this sounds like a cracking idea, apart from the fact that I have competely lost the ability to drink after two children and my idea of glamour at the moment is a fresh pair of Pyjamas and staying up past 10pm! Maybe when they hit the teenage years I could employ this technique #fortheloveofBLOG
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I had a totally ab fab moment with my own daughter a few years back as I fell up the stairs drunk after an evening out to see her in bed peering at me dissaprovingly over the top of her glasses like Saffron – I felt just like Eddie ๐๐๐
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Oh that has made me laugh too much – just brilliant! Well done for embracing the ab fab approach to parenting x
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Lol x I felt like re enacting the sweetie darling let me in scene !!!!
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Love this!! Ab fab is the way forward ๐ xx
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ha ha absolutely!!
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